Fit BodyFit Mind

Physical Fitness & Wellness Department

Lansing Community College

Amy Stoakes, MS, CESProgram Director

Fit Body – Fit Mind

Fit Body – Fit Mind

• Old and new research is coming together regarding physical activity and learning and the bottom line is….

• Physical activity is related to brain health

• Brain Rule # 1

SPARK

“Both the body, and the brain, work together. We have to see it as part of the

curriculum.”

The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain

John Ratey, MD (2008)

Key ingredient

Exercise fires the same

neural connections

that the brain uses to read,

write & compute

Exercise benefits (CDC, 2010)

Exercise increases biochemical changes:

• cerebral capillary growth

• blood flow to the brain

• Neurotrophin production

• Growth of nerve cells in the hippocampus

• neurotransmitter levels

• nerve connections

• density of neural networks

• brain tissue volume

Research (Ratey, 2008)

Exercise improves learning:

Optimizes mind-set

Improved neural connections

Angiogenesis

Executive Function

Exercise feeds the brain:

glucose + oxygen=

builds greater connections

between neurons

BDNF – “Miracle Grow” for the brain

Exercise activates, BDNF, a neuron growth factor:

• Enhance knowledge• Improve memory• Increase critical

thinking skills• keeps us alert• reduces stress

= ready to learn

Memory & Learning

Exercise has the most

effect on the hippocampus

…Where memory

and learning take place

10

Students should have a kinesthetic brain break every 25-30 minutes.

Exercise Intensity

There is a linear relationship

between heart rate &

academic performance

Academic Performance (CDC, 2010)

Exercise impacts:

• standardized test scores

• Grade point average (GPA)

• Attention

• Behavior

Mind and Body

• Exercise can not only keep you fit, but can make you smarter.

• A school in Illinois has developed a program that gets students moving and learning.

• Mind and Body

Naperville High School, 1990’s

How Exercise for Learning Readiness started…

Zero Hour PE

•Freshmen needing to increase Literacy

•Expanded to include Algebra

Naperville Zero Hour PE class

Year's growth0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

PE + Literacy groupLiteracy only

Naperville Zero Hour PE class

% improvement standardized test scores0

5

10

15

20

25

PE + AlgebraAlgebra only

Zero Hour PE class delay

% Improvement - Algebra

% Improvement - Literacy

0

5

10

15

20

25

LRPE several hour delay

LRPE Immediate prior

Grade Level Increase0

0.20.40.60.8

11.21.41.6

LRPE several hour delay

LRPE Immediate before

Titusville Pennsylvania, 2000

• Low income district

• Below state average in reading & math tests

• Restructured school day: shaving time from academic classes to make time for daily gym.

• Increased standardized test scores•17% above state avg – Reading•18% above state avg - Math

• Decreased aggressive behavior!

California Department of Education, 2001

• Longitudinal study (since 2001)

• > 1 million students 3-9th grades

• Students with higher fitness scores have higher standardized test scores

•Fit kids scored twice as well on academic tests as unfit peers

•Lower SES status kids scored higher than unfit peers

• Lead to requirements for students to participate in physical education in school

Texas 2007-2008

2.4 million Texan students grades 3-12

• Students who are physically fit are more likely to:•Perform well on the state standardized tests

•Have better school attendance

•Less likely to have discipline issues

University of Illinois Study, 2009

Expanded version of CDE study

During cognitive testing used EEG measured- attention, working memory & processing speed

Increased fitness correlated with increased test scores

Decrease in the number of mistakes kids made during tests

Lead to a formal recommendation from a panel of researchers!

22University of Illinois Study, 2009

Saginaw Valley State University, 2010

• 266 undergraduate students

• Students who regularly exercise vigorously = higher G.P.A.’s

• Does exercise really boost grades, or are academic achievers more likely to be higher achievers in exercise as well?

•YES! It does boost grades. •Controlled for confounding factors

2424

The Association Between School-Based Physical Activity,

Including Physical Education, and Academic Performance

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Division of Adolescent and School Health www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouthApril 2010

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The association between school- based physical activity, including physical education, and academic performance. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2010.

2525

Implications for Policy• Substantial evidence physical activity improves academic achievement

• Physical activity impacts cognitive skills, attitudes, & academic behavior = academic performance

• Schools should continue to offer and/or increase opportunities for physical activity

•Increasing/maintaining time dedicated to PE may help & DOES NOT adversely impact academic performance

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The association between school- based physical activity, including physical education, and academic performance. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2010.

College student barriers

College students:

• Physical activity levels decrease after high school•Participate in fewer organized sports•No physical education curriculum•Significant change of life events

•School•Work•Family •Balancing new demands•Not enough time

LCC physical activity survey, 2010

Physical Activity Survey

• Fall 2010 Semester

• Survey results (n= 612)

Knowledge of physical activity benefits

Control weight

Lower risk of

disease

Improve attention

Improve memory

Improve grades

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90% students perceived activity benefits

% students perceived activity benefits

Does knowledge = participation?

Students who knew about the cognitive benefits of physical activity, had a higher probability of participation in walking or

moderate physical activity:

ADHDImprove GPA/test scores/class gradesImprove learning

LCC’s “Zero Hour PE” class

Exercise & Learning Readiness

PFFT 110

Tues/Thurs 8:30-9:30 AM

• Started in Fall 2009

Physical Activity Classes

Any physical activity class:

Provides aerobic exerciseIncreases heart ratesProvides academic encouragement

Will provide cognitive benefitsMore is better!

Physical Fitness & Wellness Department

Brain Break activities

Activity Breaks

PFW Department website link:

http://www.lcc.edu

Knowledge CAN = Participation

• There is a positive relationship between physical activity & academic achievement

• Unfortunately, not enough students know about it…

Improve student success

Inform students about the relationship between physical activity and academic performance

Perform Brain & Activity breaks in your classes

Include this information in your class if possible

Encourage your students to exercise

Questions ???

Questions ??

You may also contact me at:

stoaka@lcc.edu

Desk: 267-5907

PFW office: 483-1227